There is another brewing discourse, or maybe more appropriately another hot debate, circulating among net web blogs and news sources, especially of Korean and Japanese authors, this time about the usage of a map depicting the body of water in between Korea and Japan as the “Sea of Japan” in globally televised Beijing Olympic closing ceremony. See the map above. As you may know, Koreans are quite touchy when you call that sea in between, “Sea of Japan.”

South Korea claims that that name was a colonial heritage of the Imperial Japan, and proposes to rename the sea with “East Sea”, reffering of course to the sea east of Korea. On the other hand, North Korea, which is more bullish on the matter, wants the sea to be called “East Sea of Korea”. Now, South Korea seems set to protest this event to China, thereby politicizing a normal Olympic relay and inflaming nationalist sentiments among citizens of both Koreans and Japanese once more, as if there is not much flame going on already between the two countries.

Icho Chiharu, Icho Kaori, Yoshida Saori, and Hamaguch Kyoko - Japan’s four women wrestling representatives at Beijing Olympics - after each winning an Olympic medal, speaks with the media about their plans for the future, Monday (August 18). English transcript of their interviews follows:

Standing at the winning platform I think in four years’ time I did all that needs to be done, and that I have spent all my energy at the games. Yes, the result was “silver”, but I think I’ve learned much more in wrestling than in any “gold”, and I’m very happy that the four of us could compete together at Beijing. After the games I really felt very relieved that I think there is nothing more for me (at the games). — Icho Chiharu (Silver Medalist - 48kg class)

Of course I came here together with Chiharu, and now that Chiharu is quitting, alone by myself (I think) “what will be a good objective?” I don’t have a goal (without Chiharu), so deep inside I’m afraid this game is my last already. — Icho Kaori (Gold Medalist - 63kg class)

In October there will be another competition in Tokyo, I will try to get another gold medal there. — Yoshida Saori (Gold Medalist - 55kg class)

I think there is only one option: to choose to compete or not. I think I will decide on that after consulting with my family and mentors. — Hamaguch Kyoko (Bronze Medalist - 72kg class)

Daily Yomiuri has an article about this new rule being enforced “inconsistently” at the ongoing Olympic games. Allegedly, flags which were written on with messages, whatever their contents, are not being allowed inside the games. Some Japanese fans who are now in Beijing were reportedly not allowed to bring in this kind of flags by Beijing Olympic officials. Fans in the country usually write on these flags to send their own personal “good luck” wishes to the athletes competing at games. However, for some reasons known only to Beijing Olympic organizers these flags seem to be inappropriate in the games. How about you do you think this kind of flags shouldn’t be allowed in the Olympic games, and why?

If you have been following judo at the Olympics you already know that Masae Ueno has won the gold medal in the 70kg division when she defeated Cuba’s Anaysi Hernandez in just 40 seconds and retained the Olympic title she won four years ago in Athens. For those of you who missed it, here is the video clip: all her wins were accomplished with ippon.

(Ippon (一本) is the full point in a judo match which immediately ends it in favor of the scorer. Judo matches without ippon are boring, they’re like soccer matches without goals.)

One comment about this video caught my eye, because the poster said something that I thought too, myself.

一本取った後にもはしゃがずに落ち着いた態度で礼をしているところが素晴らしい。「日本柔道」ですね

Even when she won the ippon she didn’t get excited and it’s wonderful the way she calmly bowed (to her opponent). That is Japanese judo.

Many athletes celebrate ecstatically in front of their opponent, without considering the pain of defeat that their opponent must have been feeling at the moment. But Ueno’s calm demeanor in victory (and her proper bowing) is praiseworthy.

Here’s a timely funny commercial by the very cute Japanese idol Ueto Aya (上戸彩). I like how they throw one another with a winning Ippon, which incidentally doesn’t matter on this particular Judo match — the one who gets to shove an Almond Chocolate on the opponents mouth wins, gets the gold, and gets to eat the chocolate too. After yielding to the temptation, her opponent exclaims “amasuginai!” which means “not so sweet”. 

The lighting of the Olympic Torch during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics was probably the most dramatic in the history of the Games. Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo lit his arrow from a burning torch, fired it into the night sky and set the Olympic Flame alight when it landed on the cauldron. Or did it? Watch the video clip below.

From this camera angle, it looks like the burning arrow really landed on the cauldron. Many people who saw the footage on TV live are still surprised to learn that the arrow actually missed its mark. (Read it in the 1996 Barcelona Olympics Wikipedia entry or this current article in the London Times.)

Of course, this is not the same fakery in the Beijing Olympics that others are pointing out but there are still a lot of people who think the arrow found its mark, like this Yahoo blogger (of all people) and countless other Youtube posters.

As the flaming arrow moved towards the cauldron, I, along with everyone watching the Opening Ceremony, hoped beyond all hope that the arrow would hit the target. I even found myself doing the Carlton Fisk “STAY FAIR!” arm-waving. Thankfully, the arrow hit the target, the cauldron burst into flames, and the crowd went wild.

That’s kind of surprising considering the fact that the Games are always featured on TV, the newspapers are full of it and all the Japanese portals on the Internet feature the latest news from Beijing.

From July 1st to 5th last month, the MyVoice did a poll on their Internet community regarding their interest in the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. Of the 13,821 people polled, 46% were male and 54% were female. The ages of those polled were teens (1%), 20s (15%), 30s (38%), 40s (30%), 50s and above (16%). Here are the results.

How much interest do you have in the Olympic Games?

Just a little over 50% are interested in the Games. Of course, the questions were asked before the Olympics were held. The media is all over the country; interest should rise during the actual staging of the Olympics.

[Read more →]

Masato Uchishiba gives Japan its first gold medal in–perhaps appropriately–judo with a nice victory over France’s Benjamin Darbelet.

Masato Uchishiba joined Japan’s pantheon of judo greats, defeating Benjamin Darbelet of France to defend his Athens title in the final of the men’s 66-kg category in Beijing on Sunday.

The wily 30-year-old veteran charged out to meet surprise finalist Darbelet, determined to dictate the pace of the bout as he had with all previous vanquished opponents.

In the end, he needed less than a minute and a half to subdue the Frenchman, dragging him to the tatami with his legs before pinning him to the mat like an attacking bulldog.

A stunned Darbelet, appearing groggy after his head crashed against the mat, could only pat Uchishiba’s side to indicate submission and gift the Japanese champion his easiest victory in the competition.